Testimonials

I booked Anne as my postnatal doula for my first baby and liked her so much that I booked her again for my second! My husband and I don’t have any close family living nearby, so Anne’s visits provided invaluable support during our first weeks as new parents and then again as parents of two. She was a calming, judgment-free presence, and I felt so confident leaving her with my little ones while I took a much-needed nap, shower, etc. She was always happy to offer newborn advice when I asked—not to mention all her extra gestures like bringing us food and offering to make us lunch. Don’t hesitate to book Anne as your postnatal doula!

I had my first baby in the height of lockdowns and felt my birth wishes were steamrolled. When I found out I was pregnant again I knew this time I needed a doula and thankfully found Anne. As soon as my husband and I met her we knew we needed her on our team. We decided we would also do hypnobirthing through Anne and the skills I learned in that course were unbelievably beneficial. Anne not only supported me during labour, but she was a godsend during my entire pregnancy which went on 18 days past my estimated due date. Unfortunately my husband was unable to attend the birth of our baby due to him being with our toddler, but I had Anne and her bag of magic by my side and felt so supported. Again in the hospital there were bumps and some who tried to dismiss my wishes. When this happened Anne would swoop in as an amazing advocate. Because of Anne I ended up having a beautiful unmedicated water birth to my 9 pound 11 ounce baby. If it wasn’t for Anne I would have likely ended up in theatre with a section. My husband and I both have said multiple times that Anne will be one of the first people we call if we decide to have a third baby.

My first gorgeous child, a little boy of 18 months was born in 2016 at 38 weeks.  I was induced by oxytocin and it was hot and heavy.  During my second pregnancy this year, I decided I wanted a doula to keep me calm, focused and empowered, and boy that’s exactly what I got and so much more.  I gained a friend who I’m very grateful for.  My beautiful daughter was born in August 2017, also by induction, and Anne could not have done any more for me, during and after.  In fact words can’t really describe how she managed to make the clinical, sterile, unhomely, scary delivery suite magical. With each intense contraction, it was made bearable and when my little girl took us all by surprise by showing up quickly, Anne saw me panic and was my voice of reason and reassurance.

I am so grateful to Anne for all she did for me and my son, and at the awesome birth of my daughter.  It would have all been very different had I not had Motherdoula at my back and we will remember that forever!  If anyone I know announces a pregnancy, I cannot recommend Anne highly enough!

Anne is calm and confident.  I knew that if my anxiety crept in, her calmness would be what I needed.  I knew that if I started to feel like I was losing control or started doubting myself, she would give me confidence.  I knew I could rely on her to see beyond policy and procedure so she could ensure I had all the information, risks, benefits and alternatives to make fully informed choices that were right for me and my baby.  She was able to pick up what my triggers were so she could step in to support me.  She was not only understanding of my wishes, but was able to adapt and support them as my birth plans and environment changed.  I loved having her to be a part of my daughter’s birth. 

We were so grateful to have Anne as our supporter while preparing for our home birth. Her warmth, heartfelt presence, and deep knowledge were an immense help, allowing us to feel even more secure throughout the birthing process. It was wonderful to follow this independent path, and to experience birth in its natural, intended way. The support of a doula is such a valuable service for couples seeking a confident, comfortable, and reassuring environment in which to welcome their baby.

Thank you so much for your support during both pregnancy and (most importantly!) during labour.  It was invaluable having you there and I keep raving about how great doulas are to random pregnant woman!

Anne is much more than a doula. Anne provided me with postnatal support that I literally could not have done without. From the very first days and weeks she was one of the only people I could really relax with and felt secure enough to leave the baby with in order to get some sleep during the day or have a shower. The bond she created with us is incredibly special.

My baby is now 15 months old. Anne is now a great friend and when she last came to visit, the enormous smile and welcome that little Katie gave her was just spectacular, even though as we’d been away, she hadn’t seen her in a few months. Anne then proceeded to rock 15 month old baba to sleep whilst humming a little song to her that she sang to her when she was days old. No one else on this planet can rock this babby to sleep, including her mama, as she is nearly always breastfed to sleep! To me it just proved that very special bond Katie has with Anne. Katie felt safe, secure and relaxed enough to sleep in Anne’s arms, despite not seeing her for a few months.

We will forever love our ‘Auntie’ Anne!

All the stars – everything her title says and more

When I started my research on finding a doula in Northern Ireland I came upon Anne’s profile after scanning all the others and immediately knew she was who I wanted just by smiling on seeing her picture and feeling warmth in reading her bio. She was quick to respond to my long distance query as I had not moved there yet and we stayed in touch through the process until it was third trimester and my partner and I were ready to meet and see if it was a good fit.

After the meeting, my partner said, “I think it would be hard to find anyone better suited for us.” And then he suggested that we do the full doula package and hypnobirthing.

Anne’s motherly presence in every way was consistent through every aspect of our interactions. She is highly knowledgeable on all things birthing and incredibly supportive of the natural and intuitive ways that we choose to live by. Through the hypnobirthing course it was most beneficial for us to separate time together, relax and allow for the seeds of knowledge to implant. Once the birthing process started I could see and feel exactly what Anne taught us and when she was present her words and reminders were exactly what I needed.

I could write a story on its own all about our relationship and how valuable Anne has become to our little family. And will just finalize by saying, she is the best addition to our lives through this and we are just so grateful that she was available and wanting to be our doula.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT WITH DOULA INVOLVEMENT YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE KIND OF BIRTH YOU WANT AND LESS LIKELY TO HAVE MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.

YES – add me to the statistics!!!

I credit Anne with the fact that I…:

• Birthed at home.
• Birthed without fear.
• Had an incredible positive birth that was magical.
• Had a totally un-medicated birth (something I would never have imagined possible).
• Had minimal involvement from midwives during birth.

I felt like a powerful goddess birthing my son .  It was so magical and incredible that I wish I could get to relive it again.
I highly recommend Anne (and do to many) for her Doula qualities, hypnobirthing course and for being such a genuinely lovely amazing person.
Anne gave me the birthing experience I could only have dreamed of and we shall always be so grateful to her.
She is so incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, caring, nurturing and a great advocate for women.  
I experienced a lot of opposition from medics regards birthing at home.  If I had not had Anne’s support I would not have had the confidence to push through on having a home birth.  Anne was always able to centre me and be my calm when I wobbled.  
Anne did so much for me:

• Trained me in hypnobirthing (truly amazing, amazing, amazing)
• Developed my knowledge
• Developed my skills
• Gave me confidence
• Helped de-stress me
• Informed me of my rights which led me to being able to get a good plan in place with the hospital (that was in line with my wishes and which I was in control of)
• Supported me
• Was my safe space
• Championed me
• Advocated for me
• Empowered me
• Loaned me books and birthing equipment eg birth swing, tens machine
• Held space for me when I needed it
• Made me laugh when I needed it
• Attended hospital meetings with me
• Gently and respectfully challenged medics on my behalf when I needed it
• Researched stuff for me
• Nurtured me
• Did fear release exercises with me
• Helped me with morning sickness
• Was always at the end of the phone when I needed her
• Made me delicious cake
• Gave me confidence to have my 3 year old present at the birth and ideas of how I could prepare her  (was so special that she got to be there and help daddy tie the tie cord and cut the cord)
• Helped with the set up the birthing space and filled pool
• Was on call for the birth
• Provided me with hypnobirthing meditations
• Attended my birth and instinctively knew what I needed and when I needed it
• Gave breastfeeding support
• Captured special moments of my birth and us bonding as a family via video and photos
• Called postpartum with lovely gift for baby 

The service Anne provided throughout the pregnancy and during birth was wonderful. She was very supportive of our birth wishes and took the time to thoroughly read and discuss our birth plan, which was very reassuring for both my partner and myself.

Being the Father during pregnancy and birth can be stressful for its own reasons. This was our third pregnancy and our second home birth. From our first meeting with Anne she was at pains to ensure our birth experience was as rewarding for me as it was my partner.
The birth experience itself was beautiful, and in no small part to Anne’s ability as a Doula. Her thorough knowledge of our birth plan meant that when things became more involved, we had someone with the experience to remember those key points.

After the birth Anne ensured that my partner, our new-born daughter and myself spent the first hour together alone. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had and a memory I will always cherish.

I have Anne to thank for that.